> 300 colonies at 150 # each yields 45,000 # honey.  If sold retail at 
> $5/# or $11/kg =  $225, 000.  Hardly hobby or sideline This also 
> assumes...
  You assume too much. 150 pound averages are few and far between. What 
about the years with a 50 pound average? What about replacing winter 
losses which requires splitting strong colonies which reduces that 
average? Making 45000 lbs honey and selling it retail to customers 
requires extra help. Your assumption won't happen in the real world. 
Who's going to manage the bees while you're out there with the honey 
customers? Even if you sell it at $1.75 bulk, you still need help...or 
are you going to manage, harvest, extract, and package it by yourself.  
At $2/lb with a hired employee for 25000 a year you're more in the 
ballpark...leaves you 65000 before management expenses. From that you 
pay for vehicle, insurances, depreciation, taxes, etc. What do you 
figure would be the real income from your 300 colonies?

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